Press Release 7 September 2020
Mike Gaffney MLC has claimed that his voluntary assisted suicide bill is perfect and can’t be improved, as he today rejected both a debate and a Parliamentary inquiry.
“There is nothing an inquiry could improve on and the community has already expressed its view on the bill.” –
Mike Gaffney MLC
Spokesperson for Live and Die Well, Ben Smith, said nothing could be further from the truth as this is a dangerous bill with numerous and serious flaws.
“Not only is Mr Gaffney trying to avoid both a debate and a Parliamentary inquiry, he now seems to be suggesting that the Bill should proceed as is through the Parliament, without so much as a single amendment.”
“To try and suggest that the community has already expressed its view on the bill when I doubt that one in ten people could even cite the bill’s title, let alone the detail of its 157 pages, is unacceptable.”
“Is Mr Gaffney trying to rush his bill through the Parliament, hoping that no one pulls him up?”
“Some of the flaws in the Bill we have already identified include:
A person is not required to have a terminal illness to access VAS;
- Extending voluntary assisted euthanasia to children within just two years;
- Medical professionals potentially breaching Federal law by consulting remotely with those wishing to access voluntary assisted suicide;
- The likely drug for VAS, pentobarbital, being found by a US Court to cause “extreme pain” and “excruciating suffering”.
“I am available at any time and any place to debate Mr Gaffney on his bill. Surely he supports scrutiny and public debate and will take up my challenge?”
Ends
For further information: Ben Smith 0410 691 371
www.livendiewell.org
